All set for staff Speak Week

Cardiff Business School is hosting a bespoke series of workshops and sessions as part of Cardiff University’s institution-wide Staff Speak Week (6 -10 February 2017).

Staff Speak Week, now in its second year, provides opportunities and fora for staff (academic and professional services) to discuss areas of concern, raise ideas and have their voices heard. The University’s bi-annual Staff Survey, which provides valuable insight in to staff well-being and sentiment, will be launched during Speak Week.

A wide range of activities, workshops and seminars will be held across the University, available to all staff. The Business School, in order to hear directly from its staff has organised a tailored set of additional activities, relevant to this audience. These include:

• Internal Communications Workshop
  The School currently uses a range of internal communication methods. This workshop will allow participants to share ideas, express their opinions and feedback on existing methods and ways to develop and improve them further.

• Research Roundtable discussions
  Staff will be able to hear from a range of colleagues about the changes to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and ways in which to improve and develop the research environment. Aspects of the School’s research environment and its research successes will be displayed throughout the week.

• What’s on your mind with Professor Martin Kitchener
  Following the success of last year’s event, the Dean will be hosting an open all-staff meeting to provide colleagues with an opportunity to ask any question they want about the School and its plans for the future. Visual notes will be displayed in the Staff Common Room afterwards to provide further opportunity to comment and reflect on discussions.

• Developing your career in professional services
  A range of workshops and career planning sessions have been arranged for PS staff have been arranged including talks from the University’s Chief Operating Officer, Jayne Dowden, and Director of Development and Alumni Relations, TJ Rawlinson, on the ways they have built their careers.

Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, believes Staff Speak Week is invaluable: “Cardiff Business School’s success and excellent reputation is underpinned by the expertise, professionalism and hard work of our staff. Academic and professional services staff are the bedrock of our welcoming, inclusive and progressive community. It is vital that they have the opportunity to express their views on the School’s direction of travel and to know that their contributions, and their ideas, are respected and acted upon.

“In 2015, we committed to a bold Public Value strategy which promotes social improvement alongside economic improvement and advocating real change. This would not be possible without the support and ambition of our staff. Speak Week allows us to come together and reflect on our successes, identify challenges and work together to provide solutions.”

Staff speak week is a campaign to raise the profile of the employee voice and encourage staff to share their views. It coincides with student speak week which is run by the Students' Union.